Dana Point residents pleased with Majestic changes, but concerns linger

More than 200 people packed the Dana Point Community Center on Monday night as representatives from Majestic Housing and Development presented the Planning Commission with changes to its mixed use project in the heart of the city’s Town Center.

The project – which includes 30,000 square feet of retail space and 111 residential condominiums on seven non-contiguous lots along Pacific Coast Highway and Del Prado Avenue – was last presented to the commission on July 14, prompting concerns from residents over possible parking issues and height variances. The look of the plan also was a concern to some who felt the design didn’t match Dana Point and included too many blank walls.

In response to those concerns, Majestic made changes that include the reduction of blank walls, an elimination of the height variance and the addition of parking space.

“I want to be very clear that what we’re showing you tonight is a work in progress,” Majestic representative Peggy Tabbas told the packed gymnasium as she explained the new plans. “We are sharing with you the work we’ve done so far and the changes we’ve made in response to the comments we heard.”

While a majority of the residents who spoke at Monday’s meeting said they were pleased with the changes and Majestic’s willingness to improve the plan based on their concerns, some still take issue with its elements.

Many of the concerns have come from the Dana Point Residents for Responsible Development, a group claiming that the Majestic project doesn’t hold to the original Town Center plan, which calls for a small town village atmosphere.

“We have a great opportunity to create a wonderful, vibrant, fantastic town center, one that visitors and residents can be proud of and enjoy and one that would be truly unique in Orange County,” said Capistrano Beach resident Betty Hill. “We shouldn’t let that go. We should stay with that vision. And residents deserve for the Planning Commission, a planning project staff and a City Council to support that vision and make it happen for us.”

The height of the proposed buildings, some of which are four stories, is also a concern for residents such as Terry Walsh, who disagrees with the small amount of time story poles are placed, which allows residents to see exactly how tall the new structures would be.

“They (Majestic) kind of missed my number one issue, which was the four stories,” Walsh said. “The story poles went up and down like that Internet commercial on television where it pops up and goes right back down. I didn’t see them and I live here. And I’m very interested in looking at these things, if they would stay up for more than 24 hours.”

Another issue, the group said, is the possibility of delivery trucks, moving vans and trash trucks blocking roads and alleyways within the development.

While Majestic continues to evolve its plan, the Planning Commission will again review the development’s changes Sept. 8.

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